Cortaderia plant named ‘Amco’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Cortaderia  plant having variegated foliage and a long flowering season.

Botanical classification: Cortaderia selloana.

Varietal denomination: ‘Amco’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofCortaderia plant (Pampas grass) known by the varietal name ‘Amco’. Thenew variety was discovered in 1998 as a selected mutation in Germany.The new variety was first asexually reproduced in 1999 by vegetativedivision in Germany. The new variety has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successivepropagations.

‘Amco’ has white inflorescences, variegated foliage, and lacks seedproduction like Cortaderia variety ‘Splendid Star’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,277). However, ‘Splendid Star’ exhibits greenish-gold leafvariegation and ‘Amco’ exhibits a larger growth habit and only femalesexual characteristics.

The following traits also distinguish ‘Amco’ as a new and distinctcultivar from other Cortaderia varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. Variegated foliage (white stripes on leaf blades);    -   2. Growth habit; and    -   3. Lacks male sexual characteristics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the whole plant; and

FIGS. 2-5 are photographs of the leaf blades of the new variety.

The submitted photographs were taken of a one-year old ‘Amco’ plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the newcultivar. The data which defines these characteristics were collected byasexual reproductions carried out in Germany. Plants for the descriptionwere grown in 25 cm pots in peat substrate and were one year old. Thecolor readings were taken under natural, shadowed light. Colorreferences are primarily to the 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of the RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

PLANT

-   Height: 100 cm, but can reach up to 200 cm high when grown in open    spaces.-   Diameter: 110 cm.-   Vigor: Compact.-   Form: Erect and slightly spreading.-   Roots:    -   -   Source.—Rhizone.        -   Habit.—Thick and fleshy.        -   Time to initiate roots.—5 days at 15° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—10 days at 15° C.-   Time to produce a finished plant from a rooted cutting: 50 weeks in    a 25 cm container.-   Culms:    -   -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Length.—20-25 cm.        -   Color.—146C and slightly pinkish 63D at the base.        -   Internode length.—1.0-2.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Very little present, but invisible and sharp.        -   Arrangement.—Almost parallel from the base.-   Plantlets:    -   -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Average length.—15 cm.        -   Internode length.—1 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Absence.        -   Color.—146C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf blades.—Shape: Linear. Number: 7-10 per culm. Width: 1            cm at the base, narrowing to 0.1 cm at the tip. Length:            40-60 cm. Shape of apex: Acuminate. Shape of base: Cuneate.            Texture: Smooth, with invisible and sharp pubescence            present. Aspect: Erect and arching. Margin type: Entire and            white (chimeral pattern). Venation: Parallel. Pubescence:            Upper surface: Very little present, invisible and partly            sharp. Lower surface: Very little present, invisible and            partly sharp.        -   Color: Young leaf blade: Upper surface: 138B with a white            margin and 193C stripes in the middle. Lower surface: 146D            with a white margin and 193C stripes in the middle. Mature            leaf blade: Upper surface: 138A with a white margin and 193C            stripes in the middle. Lower surface: 146C with a white            margin and 193C stripes in the middle.-   Ligules:    -   -   Length.—0.1 cm.        -   Width.—1.2-2.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Reduced and toothed.        -   Color.—193C.        -   Pubescence.—Present.        -   Number.—Two, one per side.        -   Truncation.—Toothed.-   Sheaths:    -   -   Length.—Approximate 15 cm.        -   Width.—1.2-2.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Half-round and open.        -   Color.—138D, with a weak pink 63D at the base.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—5-7 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Color.—138D.-   Veins:    -   -   Venation type.—Parallel, with a long acute top.        -   Color.—138C.

FLOWERS

-   Buds:    -   -   When described.—At 40 cm inflorescence length.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Length.—0.2 cm.        -   Color.—138D.-   Natural flowering season: September - November in Germany.-   Flower:    -   -   Type.—Panicle.        -   Corolla form.—Zygormorphic.        -   Fragrance.—None present.        -   Shape.—Primary ascending contracted ramification.        -   Number.—Greater than 100 per panicle.        -   Pedicle length.—Approximately 0.5-1.5 cm.        -   Peduncle length.—100-110 cm.        -   Petals.—Number: 1 glume, approximately 50 lemma. Length:            1.0-1.5 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Glume shape: Linear. Lemma shape:            Fibril. Aspect: Upright, slightly outward. Margin: Smooth.            Texture: Smooth. Color: When opening: 138D, both surfaces.            Fully opened: 138C, both surfaces.        -   Fragrance.—None present.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens: None present.-   Pistils:    -   -   Length.—0.1 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 0.1 cm. Color: 157C.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Elongated. Color: 157C.-   Seed/fruit production: sterile.

GENERAL

-   Cold tolerance: Protection in temperatures below −20° C. is    suggested.-   Disease resistance: Similar to other Cortaderia varieties known to    the breeder.-   Lasting quality: Flowers last on the variety from September to    November.

1. A new and distinct variety of Cortaderia plant substantially asherein shown and described.